Philosophy- everyone has one
However, it’s a lot like a uvula- everyone has one but no one has any idea what it does or why it’s there!
“Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted?” II Corinthians 11:7
The word philosophy comes from two Greek words- Phileo and Sophia- “to love” and “to be wise”. Thus philosophy is literally “the love of wisdom”. When we think of philosopher’s, we usually think of old Greek men sitting around in togas in places like the Parthenon arguing about obscure and meaningless trivia. So we get dictum’s like the famous- “I think, therefore I am.” No doubt a truism- but what in the world does it have to do with real life? How do I use it to fix my car, balance the demands of life, raise my kids and love my wife? How does it help me fulfill the commands to love God and love men?
Simply put, philosophy is a system of values and beliefs that guides my every action. It helps me understand why I do what I do. In modern terms we probably use the word “worldview” to express the idea. Like a pair of glasses that sit on my nose that helps bring the whole world around me into clear focus and allows me to safely negotiate life, so too my worldview is the “lens” through which I interpret reality. However, the issue is: is my worldview the right lens?
Today we see Paul explaining to the church at Corinth why he did what he did in ministry. What his priorities were and why they were his priorities. We clearly see he didn’t do what he did out of a willy nilly reaction to things that came his way, but rather he made careful and well thought out choices based on the leading of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of God’s Word. May it be so with us, forgive us Lord when we allow the urgent things of life to drive our decisions- rather than a calculated decision based on Your will.
Because of grace,
Tim
